Mumbai: Cyber police are dropping the hammer on the “middlemen” of cyberscams. As part of a nationwide crackdown ordered by Ministry of Home Affairs to get a grip on cybercrime, Mumbai police have registered 10 FIRs (first information reports) against mule bank account holders, or those who rent out their bank accounts to scammers for a quick commission, in less than a fortnight. Police are also actively registering offences against individuals providing mule SIM cards, which are pre-activated mobile phone SIM cards obtained through fraudulent means to facilitate cybercrime.“Fresh offences are being registered against mule bank account holders after verifying that they knowingly granted scammers access to their bank accounts and received a commission for it,” said a senior police officer. He added that the ultimate goal of MHA’s directives is to bring cyber financial crime completely under control by 2028.On Thursday, the Central cyber police, under the supervision of DCP Bajrang Bansode and senior inspector Chimaji Adhav, busted a gang of seven people involved in operating mule accounts and withdrawing money. A few of the gang members were caught red-handed attempting to withdraw Rs 10 lakh each by cheque from two bank accounts in Borivli. Subsequent investigations showed that this single gang operated 27 mule bank accounts scattered across various branches of the same public sector bank at Dadar, Mahim, Borivli, and Mira Road.Explaining the deep-rooted deception in such cases, an officer said, “Typically, a current account is opened in a bank in the name of a firm. The firm is registered and has a valid office address. On physical verification, it may appear legitimate, but it is bogus and its bank account is operated by scammers for receiving illicit funds.”In one instance, police came across a bank account registered in the name of an agricultural firm but used for receiving scammed sums. In another case, investigators found a mule account tucked away with a leading private bank’s Bandra-Kurla Complex branch, where sums totalling Rs 17.67 lakh were withdrawn using cheques.“Registering offences against mule bank account holders and mule SIM card providers will send across a strong message that these activities won’t be tolerated,” said DCP Bansode. He said that 10 FIRs had been registered in the past nine to 10 days alone, and 30 to 35 bank accounts are currently in the process of being frozen.Mule SIM cards are typically registered using stolen or forged personal identities and are crucial tools for facilitating cybercrime, including digital arrest frauds. Police have come across instances where local SIM card dealers or point-of-sale operators have been actively involved in providing mule SIM cards to scammers.According to govt rules, an individual is legally allowed to buy up to nine SIM cards in their name, but only one SIM card can be activated within a period of 24 hours.
